retiree

And another: https://aseannow.com/topic/1301299-report-on-cw-trifecta-new-passport-transfer-extend-retirement-and-pay-90-day-fine-in-under-2-hours/ I brought the full rental / ID / TM-30 paperwork package (because I was also changing passpart) but wasn't asked for any of it. -- Retiree

800K+ in a fixed account for many years. -- Retiree

( Also answers Will CW extend retirement if I'm behind on 90-day report ) Yes -- they didn't ask for it. I replaced my passport several months early to get a full year extension. US Embassy delivered in 5 weeks 4 days by mail as advertised. I missed two 90-day reports by the time of my appointment. Made two advance online appointments: one for retirement (go directly to the "L" window, no check-in number), and another 1.5 hours later for 90-day report. For new passport transfer, I used the IM checklist: form with picture, pages from old passport, ID page from new blank passport, letter from US Embassy explaining they don't provide letters from here: Notification-of-cessation-of-linkage-letters.pdf To extend retirement: form with picture (using new passport number), pages from old passport, ID page from new blank passport, Google map, all pages of old, filled, bankbook, and of a brand new (just 3 entries) bankbook. It's fixed deposit account, so the last updates (just entered in the new book) are dated 2+ months ago, per last interest payment. bank letter from prior day. For 90-day report: form (used new passport number, no picture or copies needed), 2,000 baht. I was processed first at the Elite window (B-65, I think), then paid the fine in the little office on the left side of the "A" 90-day room. She was very nice, but basically said that even if I had proof aliens had abducted me, it would still be a 2,000 baht fine. The transfer and extension IO did not ask for: anything else from the Embassy, 90-day report receipt: I had been concerned I'd have to do this first, so I had my online appointment confirmation ready to plead for mercy, but it didn't come up. I had my most recent (from last December) but didn't have to show it. TM-30: I had my apartment update my TM-30 the week before, so it must've been online. The apt. gave me a full packet (their TM-30, owner's ID, letter, lease, etc.), but none of these were asked for. the IO copied, and had me sign, one additional passport page -- went by very quickly, but it might have been the one with the extension in effect at the time of my last entry into Thailand some years ago. Later it was stamped and I had to sign it again. All in all a very easy & professional process. -- Retiree

I called the US number (1 800 772 1213 / 8am - 7pm M-F) given on the main SSA contact us page a number of months back (I had an account set up previously, but needed a new password). They were very helpful, and were even able to tell me my likely benefit amount. If a pre-existing account isn't required, this may be the easiest way to find out if one has the required number of quarters in the system. -- Retiree

Not terrified. Or worried -- have never had a problem here just showing a cellphone pic or Xerox copy. After 5 weeks I got an e-mail from the Embassy (with tracking number) saying they'd mail my new passport in a couple of days. Arrived 3 days later. Start to finish: 5 weeks 4 days as advertised. -- Retiree

OP here, re-upping my hope that somebody can post their actual experience with the BOI re using a current balance statement from an "official" retirement account (such as a US IRA), even if for tax reasons one is not currently receiving any yearly distribution. Would $800,000 IRA assets alone do the trick, even without passive income? Is there some combination guideline? Yes, this is discussed clearly in the YouTube video (see first page of this thread, at 14:05 Can you qualify with retirement savings?) but afaik still isn't mentioned in any of the online or print documentation. -- Retiree

Thank you Pib for the screen capture, and my apologies to Lost Nomad -- I confess that I did not last through the entire YouTube video, which contains this link at the bottom of its Show More section. I have transcribed a minute of it, below (light editing for clarity): 14:05 Can you qualify with retirement savings? Chris: ... but they have a big stock portfolio in an IRA or RRSP ... [but] haven't started to take that money out yet. Ms. K: So, if you don't have that regular flow of cash coming in every year, but instead you have this big amount of money ... it's your pension fund, basically, so what you need to do is show us that the total amount of the fund covers the 10-year period. Chris: So say $800K or a million ... even if it's in your home country. Then you might still qualify. Ms. K: Exactly. But let me stress that it needs to be a pension or annuity fund. Chris: That's fantastic. Bearing ThailandRyan's cautionary comment in mind, it does appear that this is an informal way to qualify, on a case-by-case basis, that is not listed on the BOI site. Has anybody reading this thread made use of this method for closing the $80K gap yet? -- Retiree

Thank you for posting this thought, which describes the path the BOI does allow for meeting the insurance requirement. At the same time I accept that if the BOI wanted to let some kind of asset minimum be used to meet the income requirement, they could have done so in the same way. It may be that: 1) it is not permitted by the government's enabling legislation founding the program, so it isn't on the table, 2) it was considered by the BOI, but was rejected for reasons we are not privy to (and which are their internal business, not ours). Possibly they felt the $250K investment alternative was reasonable, preferable, and easier to vet. 3) it is being allowed informally, on a case-by-case basis, after a review of the applicant's situation. Has anybody reading this thread ever asked the BOI if showing a sufficiently large balance in a retirement account (say, $400-800K to meet a $40K yearly passive income shortfall) would be acceptable to close the $80K gap? -- Retiree

Thanks again. I may have been over-thinking this because single-payment, immediate, fixed-term annuities (as opposed to the deferred, long-term, retirement kind) seem to be a rare exception in Thailand. And nobody has mentioned using one for LTR. That said, this discussion has helped clarify the specific question I'll want to ask BOI before buying the instrument and applying. Presumably they will confirm that if I (or my IRA) buys an immediate annuity (to be paid at the end of each year), the contract alone will be sufficient evidence for that part of the $80K income stream. -- Retiree

Thank you for your detailed response. The particular problem I'm trying to solve is this: -- I'd like to apply next year, 2024. -- I'll only have 1/2 year Social Security this year, 2023. I'm hoping that it will be clear to BOI from my SSA award letter (and part-year 1099-R) that 2024 SS will be over $40K, even though I won't have that full-year 1099-R until 2025. -- I won't have any required (and taxed) IRA distribution for a few more years. I would think that many (US, at least) retirees in the 62-73 age range are in a similar position. Topping up to $80K by buying an immediate annuity that pays $40K/year with after-tax cash earns a few percent, whereas withdrawing $40K/year of taxable money from an IRA each year would cost a few times that. But I'd think that I'll only get something like a 1099-INT that shows the taxable portion (<5%) of each annuity distribution -- not the full amount of each check -- in 2025. I'd hope that the BOI would recognize that the return of the investment portion (specified in the immediate annuity statement) is guaranteed, passive income as well. But, I guess it's possible that nobody on this site has used (or tried) an immediate annuity yet. -- Retiree

My thinking stands corrected, thanks ???? I see that Bangkok Bank transfers bond book income to one's Bangkok Bank savings account, but whether or not that can be an either-signature joint account (some banks allow, some do not), I imagine that the bond owner dying would gum up the works. Can anybody who has done this please comment on what, exactly, they gave the BOI to verify overseas annuity income? I'm completely ignorant on this. When you buy an annuity, do you get a document stating the payout and duration that the BOI accepts? I'd assume they want a 5-year term. -- Retiree

Thank you. I guess the takeaway is that one should go to the main Bangkok Bank branch if purchasing the BOI alternative of US$250K, with (I think) 5 years minimum to maturity. Am I correct in thinking you can name a Thai beneficiary for this type of bond? And if anybody could name the specific department or person at the main branch to deal with, as well as any other requirements, that would be great. For example, can a foreign resident on retirement extension, without a tabien baan, make a cash purchase using local funds? -- Retiree

Please: do discuss methods, please don't complain about the rules. I'm starting this thread to try to create a central reference for folks who: - meet the minimum LTR $40K passive income requirement with Social Security or pension, - have money in the bank, but need to show additional passive income to get to $80K, - are not looking for well-meaning advice about why they shouldn't, - do not want to read complaints about procedures, BOI, banking, rules, etc., - do not want to buy condos or invest in companies, - do not yet have RMD / required IRA distributions, and want to avoid taxable IRA distribution for now, - may have other considerations, e.g. make it easy for a Thai partner to inherit the asset in case of one's death, - just want to get it done simply, even if it costs a few bucks more. There has been some discussion about the difficulty of buying Thai gov bonds buried in the big LTR thread, but it seems to be "know a guy who knows a guy ... ". There are also occasional discussions of annuities in the business forum, but afaik there is still no simple version of an immediate annuity for sale in Thailand. Some basic questions are: - is there an easy way to buy Thai government bonds that satisfies the BOI? - is there a Thai company that will definitely sell a five or 10 year immediate annuity? - is there another in-country alternative that satisfies the BOI, and can have a Thai beneficiary? - is buying an immediate annuity overseas still the easiest way to create passive income? - does anybody have any out-of-the box solutions? For instance, a regular IRA can buy an immediate annuity and receive payments within the IRA, so there's no tax consequence yet. Does this work for the BOI, even though it wouldn't generate a 1099-R ? Thanks in advance for any specific methods for solving the Wealthy Pensioner top-up to $80K problem. And please, let's try to stick to productive discussion of this one topic -- Retire

From the US Embassy website: As of April 10, 2023, the Embassy/Consulate will no longer issue passport linkage letters with newly issued passports. If a Thai government office requests one, your cancelled passport and your newly issued passport will suffice. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/adult-passport-renew/ Just the messenger, -- Retiree

I may have been asking the wrong question. Has anybody: -- tried to extend their retirement visa at CW, -- been asked for, but been unable to produce, a current 90-day report receipt, and -- either been allowed to extend despite not being up to date, or not allowed to extend because of it? -- or, know through some other means, that the 90-day report must be up-to-date for an extension per procedures currently being followed at CW? Thanks in advance, -- Retiree

Hmm, looks like DrJack54 and Celsius are not in agreement on this. Any idea why this might be? Celsius -- was it a retirement extension, and was your 90-day overdue (not reset by leaving / re-entering the country)?

Thanks, that was what I was trying to find out. I still have the old passport, so I'll do the 90-day + fine first, then transfer + extension mid-year (within the window for the next 90-day report on the new passport). The IM site does say that I must bring the new passport in person the first time to enable on-line reporting, but that I can send it via my trusty motorcycle driver. -- Retiree

I plan to apply for a new passport in the next few weeks. Then, mid-year, I'll transfer my current retirement extension, and apply for a new one, in a single trip to CW. Unfortunately, I just fell behind on my 90-day report -- I was focused on the passport renewal (and didn't get the automated 90-day reminder) and forgot to do it. Given my (haha) advanced age of about 70, is it possible that CW will let me do the transfer and extension on a single visit even though I'm a bit behind on the 90-day report (which I'll work out later that day, since I'll then have a valid passport with visa) ? Or is it more likely to be the worst-case scenario: they will transfer my current visa on one visit, tell me to go fix the 90-day report, and require another trip for the retirement extension? Thanks for any advice (and yes, because of age / health I'm trying to avoid trips to CW). -- Retiree

Try Nizoral cream (Ketoconazole), any pharmacy. Anal yeast infections are a common fungal infection caused by a yeast called Candida. Symptoms include an intense itching sensation around your anus called pruritus ani. Treatment includes antifungal creams, ointments or suppositories. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22907-anal-yeast-infection The most common cause of occasional anal itching (pruritus ani) is a fungus/yeast infection. ... It is frequently worse at night. https://hemorrhoidcentersamerica.com/anal-rectal-problems/anal-itching/

Question for somebody with a Schwab International account (if you happen to know, or if it's ever convenient to ask). Schwab sells a variety of immediate annuities. Typically payment continues to a beneficiary if the annuitant dies. Will they accept a Thai beneficiary who has no US address or bank? Thanks, -- Retiree

It wasn't the installation crew's fault; they were competent and would have replaced the cable section if necessary. Accidents happen -- I think one of the building staff came in to check progress, and inadvertently shut the door without realizing it was dangling through. -- Retiree

The US (and UK) the last two years had peak hospitalizations mid-January, so infections a bit earlier. And I think December is historically the top month for tourist arrivals. "Winter" hasn't been a peak season for Covid in Thailand, but with loosened controls this year ... -- Retiree. https://news.google.com/covid19/map?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen&state=1&mid=%2Fm%2F09c7w0

Oh, I've just seen a number of posts were people seemed concerned that stepping on the fiber, or having ethernet cable < CAT 6, would interfere with their speed. Wasn't my experience. -- Retiree

Quick report on True fiber installation in my apartment building. The door somehow shut on the cable while they were setting up, crimping it about 90 degrees between the door and the header stop (that narrow board under the top jamb). Not a super-tight fit, but the plastic/metal fiber casing was definitely crimped. Long story short: the cable guy said "no biggie." He was right. I'm also using CAT 5e cable inside -- again, no problem getting over 500 Mbps as advertised. The only problem I had was that my ethernet cable clicked, but apparently didn't seat properly, in a D-Link switch I use for a couple of desktops. I got 500+ at first, then only a very consistent <100 when I rechecked a few hours later. WiFi was hitting 400+, though, so I ran the drill of unplugging and re-plugging everything, which fixed it. -- Retiree

Just chiming in here. Had my first Moderna booster mid-February (8.5 months ago), but I've been putting off getting the second while hospitalizations rates have been very low in Thailand. I am going to get the second booster now, because: a) it's available walk-in through the 31st Oct at Bamrungrad (900B), b) it will give me that extra bit of protection for the next few months -- through the peak Covid season, if there is one this year. -- Retiree